Centrifugal separator



L T... e e h s s t e e h s 4 R. 0 T M K M C E@ PT.. a, M m 0 M ml N E cmf d o M 0. /N\

PantedV Ma AN DREW BGRAHAM. PHOTD-LITNU. WASHINGTON, 0.6.(

4 Sheets- Sheetj 2.

(Nb Model.) O. B. PEGK.

GENTRIFUGAL SEPARTOR No. 560,633. Patented May 19, 1896.

4 (No Modl.) `4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

0.,B.PBGK.

` GBNTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR; No. 560,633'. Patented My'lQ, 1896.

" lill-ll W g' g@ gli I @El fl "l [E l l El Q El l i Lg i as @J [y' o foE] j El.

Nrrn STATES CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,633, dated May 19,1896. Application filed November 6 1894. Serial No. 528,117. (No model.)

. have invented new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Separators,of which the following is a specification.

The principal objects of my invention are f to provide a centrifugalseparator wherein the force of gravity assists in carrying materialunder treatment over the separating-surface toward the point ofdischarge to effect a continuous separation of heavier and lightersubstances and a separate and continuous discharge thereof, to provide adefiector within the treatment-cylinder held in a central positionlargely by the force of the water contained within said cylinder, andalso to improve various points in construction. I attain these objectsby the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, in which-Figure l is a vertical side elevation of one of my improved separators.Fig. 2 is a central vertical section in a plane at right angles to Fig.l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section of a portion of thetreatmentcylinder. Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the staves of thetreatment-cylinder detached. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of an enlargedportion of the deiiector, showing the preferred oblique position of theagitating or plowing studs. Fig. 6 is a central vertical section ofanother form of separator embodying my improvements. Fig. 7 is a detailbottom plan view of the dividing-ring partly broken away. Fig. S is acentral vertical section of still another form of iny invention. Fig. 9is a detail bottom plan view of the dividing-ring somewhat modified fromthat shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of Fig. 8 online 10, looking in the direction of the arrow.

The treatment vessel or cylinder A, having a separating-surface A', ispreferably provided with heads or ends a, having trunnions a', the upperone of which is hollow and is journaled in suitable boxes a2 on thesupporting-frame B. The lower trunnion is stepped in a bearing a3. Thetreatment vessel or cylinder,which for brevity will be called atreatment-cylinder throughout the specilication, is shown as enlargingtoward its lower or discharge end, but may be made straight, if defsired. The treatment-cylinder, when its form will permit, may beconstructed of staves or sections of wood A2, as particularly shown inFigs. 2, 3, and 4, secured at their ends to flanges on the heads of thecylinder by means l of bolts b, or they may be secured at one or bothends, preferably at least at the larger, to a supplemental ring B',which is detachably secured to the head of the cylinder to admit of itseasy removal and the insertiony rubber or like material to assist inmaking it` water-tight and to afford a separating-surface which may bereplaced when worn. An encircling metal ring forms a belt-surface C atthe central portion of the cylinder, which has at each side a thinnerrim c, provided with holes through which screws c pass to assist inholding the staves of the cylinder together and also to retain the ringin place. The cylinder is further reinforced by a wrapping of wire C.Near its lower end the cylinder ispprovided with a row ofdischargeorifices carrying tubes D, and surrounding these tubes andhaving an annular channel d through its inner wall is a trough D tocatch the material as it is thrown from the treatment-cylinder, providedwith dischargepassages dl.

Within the treatment-cylinder, supported on a preferably hollow shaftF., extending through the upper trunnion a', journaled in the boxes eand rotated through a pulley E', is a deflector F, which is made oflight material or is hollow, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it is lighterthan an equal bulk of' water, thereby enabling it to be maintained in acentral position in the treatment-cylinder by the pressure of watersurrounding the deiiector, and which, acted upon by centripetal force,presses the defiector throughout its `circumference toward the axis/ofrotation, thus exerting a strong uniform` force to cause it to TOOmaintain a central position. rlhis construction is especiallyadvantageous when the de-4 fiector is supported at one end only, when itis not mounted very securely, or is j ournaled in bearings aconsiderable distance apart. The vertical position of the shaft E anddeflector is preferably maintained by the hubs of the pulley Econtacting with the ends of the boxes e.

Just above the upper end of the hollow shaft E is located a funnel F,supported by abracket f. This funnel serves to introduce material intothe hollow shaft, from which it passes out of orifices f onto the upperportion of the separating-surface. On the surface of the deflector areplaced projections or studs G to effect agitation of material over theseparating-surface. The outer or service ends of these studs may be madeto serve as plows as well as agitators to plow or deflect material onwhich they operate toward the discharge end of the treatment-cylinder byflattening them on one or both sides and setting them in the defiectorwith the flattened side at an angle in an oblique position to the pathof revolution, as shown in Fig. 5.

To vibrate the treatment-cylinder and separating-surface to assist inseparation, there is provided an irregular roll or cam G', supported onan arm g and contacting with the upper head of the treatment-cylinder,producin g shocks thereto in its rotation.

In the form of separator shown in Figs. G and 7 the treatment-cylinderand other parts are made of metal and somewhat different in form. Thewalls of the treatment-cylinder are curved, the angle with the axis ofrotation decreasing toward the discharge end for purposes hereinafterexplained. rlhe treatment-eylind er is provided with a vertical ringshaped to afford a belt-surface C2.

This machine is so arranged that the process of separation can becarried on continuously-that is, the introduction of material to thetreatment-cylinder and the various stages of separation of heavier fromlighter substances and their separate discharge are effectedsimultaneously and continuously during the operation of the separator.To accomplish this, the lower portion of the treatment-cylinder,preferably throughout its entire circumference, is provided with anextended or enlarged portion Il, forming an interior recess or channelh, from which discharge-oriiices Gf radiate through the wall of thecylinder. lVithin the treatment-cylinder and over the channel h is anadjustable annular plate or ring Hf, made of comparatively light metal,with its upper edge thinned to adapt it to divide or cut the layer ofparticles of material on the separating-surface, dividing the stratum orlayer of heavier substances from beneath the lighter, and alsoprotecting the discharge-orifices for heavier particles from the ingressof the lighter. It may therefore be termed a divider or a protector.7The edge of the divider approaches closely to the shoulder caused by theenlargement H and leaves only a small passage h between them. Thispassage may be varied in size by the vertical adjustment of the divider,which may be effected by threaded rods I engaging at their upper endslugs t' on the ring and near their opposite ends the head of thetreatmentcylinder.

To supply comparatively clean water to the recess h for discharge withthe particles of heavier material deflected thereunder and to preventthe water within the treatmentcylinder from forcing a channel throughand disturbing that portion of the material entering the passage 7L',there are provided tubes t', mounted in orifices in the divider andextending in sufficiently toward the axis of the cylinder to passthrough any layer of material that may be formed, and preferablysomewhat farther to insure a minimum amount of lighter material beingconducted with the water to the chamber 7L and again mingled with theheavier, which are deflected under the divider and discharged therefrom."Where the cutting edge of the divider closely approaches theseparating-surface the shoulder is preferably provided with a removablering I, which can be replaced as desired when worn.

Around the lower portion of the treatmentcylinder, below theseparating-surface and divider-ring, are orifices, preferably carryingshort tubes J, for the discharge of the lighter portions of material. Anannular trough J supported on the frame B, encircles the lower end ofthe cylinder, having two compartments and an annular channel j openinginto each in alinement with the discharge-orifices g' and tubes J,whereby the heavier and lighter substances are caught separately anddischarged from the compartments through spoutsj. It is desirable toimpart a tremor or vibration to the separating-surface to assist inseparation, and especially to cause the heavier substances thataccumulate on the separating surface and such of the lighter portion asform a layer upon the heavier to creep or gradually travel along towardthe discharge'- point. To accomplish this, cam-rolls Kf, rotatablymounted on a bracket k, operate in contact with the shoulder caused bythe enlargement H of the treatment-cylinder. The irregular shape ofthese rolls imparts a series of shocks to the cylinder as it rotates,and thus vibrates the separating-surface.

The deflector or agitating-cylinder F is provided with an annular recess7s to admit of the tubes t" being extended nearer to the axis ofrotation, and like the form first illustrated is supported on the hollowshaft E, mounted in journal-boxes c and rotated by the pulley E'.

In Figs. 8, 9, and l0 is illustrated still another form of my invention.The general shape of the treatment-cylinder, deflector, and most of theother parts are shown as similar IOO IIO

to those illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 but the treatment-cylinder in thisinstance is preferably provided with'a hollow trunnion at its lowerend'and Vthe deflector with an extended shaft L, which passes throughsaid trunnion and is journaled in a box L', the upper portion Z of whichmay also serve as a step for the trunnion. rlhe journal-box L isextended down to receive the plunger l', serving as a guide to the same.On the upper end of this plunger rests the deflector-shaft L, and at itsopposite end it is connected by means of a sliding box M to one end of alever M", pivotally fulcrumed at m to the supportingbrackets fm', andconnected at its other `end by'a sliding box N to the crank portion of acrank-shaf t N. This crank-shaft is supported in journal-boxes 'a onbrackets n', depending from the lower part of the frame of theseparator, as particularly shown in Fig. l0, is rotated by a belt uponthe pulley O, and is held from longitudinal movement in its boxes bycollars o. By the rotation of the crankshaft N a rocking motion will beimparted to the lever M', reciprocatingthe plunger Z, and as thissupports the shaft of the dellector the latter with the agitators willbe moved in a direction transverse to its path of rotation, causingpractically the whole of the separating-surface to come under theinfluence of said agitators. The upper portionof the deflector-shaft isjournaled, and there is sufficient space between the pulley E', boxes e,and other parts of the separator to admit the reciprocation ofthedeliector. In this form of separator the dividing-ring is made slightlydifferent in form and is adjustably secured to the lower part of thedeflector by threaded studs O and is revolved by the deflector in itsrotation instead of by the treatment-cylinder, as previously described.The divider, in addition to the tubes t" and other parts attached to it,preferably carries several proj ections or plows 0', extending into thechannel h and serving to move or plow the material passing under thedivider over the discharge-orifices g to facilitate its discharge.Vithout these plows material piles up within the channel between theorifices, and therefore tends to clog. To admit of access to the studs Ofor the adjustment of the dividingring, there are screw-threaded holesthrough the bottom of the treatment-cylinder opposite the studs,provided with screw-threaded plugs P.

The operation of the separators, when constructed as first described, isin successive alternations of separating and accumulating a desiredquantity of heavier material on the separating-surface while dischargingthe lighter portions and then discharging the accumulated heavier,diverting the two to different places of deposit, employing the force ofgravity acting in the direction of travel of the material through thetreatment-cylinder toward the point of discharge to assist the otherforces employed for effecting such sepa-` ration and discharge of-therespective substances. The treatment-cylinder and deflector are rotatedat a relatively greater or less speed, as will suit the peculiarconditions existing. `The material to be separated inv a finely-dividedstate and mingled with a condeilector and the inner wall of the cylinderl well filled or the separating-surface 'submerged. During theseparating period the differential speed of the separating-surface andthe deflector should be sufliciently great that the force of the Waterflowing through the channel, the agitation caused by the projections andotherwise, and the force of gravity will carry the lighter portionsofthe material downward over the separating-surface to thedischarge-orifices; but said combined forces are sufficiently weak topermit the heavier substances, actuated by centrifugal force, to lodgeand accumulate on the separating-surface until a desired quantity hasgathered, when the introduction of material to the treatment-cylinder ispreferably discontinued, water alone being introduced during theunloading period, and the differential speed of the cylinderanddeflector is now increased, preferably by lessening the speed of IOOthe former, thereby lessening the centrifugal force developed tomaintain the layer of heavier substances on the separating-surface, atthe same time increasing the agitation to which such material issubjected sufficiently to enable these forces, assisted by gravitation,to move it downward to the dischargeorifices, through which it passesinto the surrounding trough. After the heavier has been discharged theinitial speed may be restored andthe operation repeated. As the heavierand lighter portions of the material flow from the trough D they will bereceived in separate receptacles. If desired, additional water may beintroduced to the treatment-cylinder by means of a pipe f2, extendedinto the hollow trunnion a g In the operation of the separatorillustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings the process of separation anddischarge of the heavier and lighter material is continuous. Thematerialis introduced into the treatment-cylinder and separated in the mannerjust described, and the lighter substances will travel down theseparating-surface, passing over the dividing-rin g to theirdischarge-orifices, while the heavier will accumulate in a layer nearestthe separating-surface under the lighter. The outward slant of the wallof the treat- `ment-cylinder as it approaches the discharge end is lessthan in the previous insta e- `tarding the progress of material/armimaking IIO the accumulation on the separating-surface, Which tends inthe preceding form to pile up at the feed end, nearly uniformthroughout. The layer of heavier substances will be driven bycentrifugal force, assisted by the force of gravity and by the vibrationof the cylinder, gradually along the separatingsurface toward thedischarge end of the cylinder, at the same time carrying along anylighter substances that may be lodged thereon, and as the layer reachesthe divider the heavier Will be divided from beneath the lighter anddiverted through the narrow passage 7L into the channel under thedividingring, from whence it Will be discharged through the orificesinto the appropriate compartment in the surrounding trough, While thelighter substances pass to the orifices nearer the end of the cylinderand are discharged and caught in the other compartments.

The operation of the form illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and l0 of thedrawings is very similar to that just described. The dividingring,however, travels with the detlector, and with its plows o aids thedischarge of the heavier substances from the channel 71. During theoperation the crank-shaft is revolved, imparting a slight reciprocationto the defiector and the divider-ring, which increases the field ofaction of the agitators and assists the separation and discharge ofmaterial.

W'hile there are illustrated separators having treatment-cylindersprovided with shafts or trunnions on which they are journaled, it is notnecessary to make them in this Way, as the cylinder may be provided withbearings encircling its body, if desired. The studs carried by thedefiector should be eX- tended far enough therefrom to producesufiicient agitation.

Vhat l regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a centrifugal separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating-surface, a deflecter therein of less specific gravity than avolume of Water of equal size, whereby the same is held in position bythe Water Within the separator, substantially as described.

2. ln a centrifugal separator, the combination of a rotatabletreatment-cylinder composed of staves or sections secured at least atone end to a ring, Which is detachably secured to the head of thecylinder, substantially as described.

3. In a centrifugal separator, the combination of a rotatabletreatment-cylinder composed of staves or sections secured at least atone end to a ring, which is detachably secured to the head of thecylinder, and an cncircling ring mounted on said cylinder affording abelt-surface therefor, substantially as described.

4f. In a centrifugal separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating-surface provided With one or more passages for the dischargeof heavier substances, a plate protecting such passages from the ingressof the lighter substances, and agitators operating under said plate,substantially as described.

5. In a centrifugal separator, the combination of a rotatc bleseparating-surface for separating material into strata of heavier andlighter substances, and an independently-r0- tatable divider forseparating the heavier stratum from beneath the lighter, substantiallyas described.

6. ln a centrifugal separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating-surface for separating material into strata of heavier andlighter substances, a divider for separating the heavier stratum frombeneath the lighter, discharge-passages beneath the same and agitatorscarried by the divider operating in proximity in said passages,substantially as described.

7. In a centrifugal separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating-surface upon which material is separated into strata ofheavier and lighter substances, a divider for separating the heavierstratum from beneath the lighter, and a differentially-rotatabledeflector therein carrying agitators, substantially as described.

8. ln a centrifugal separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating-surface upon which material is separated into strata ofheavier and lighter substances, a conduit depositing material forseparating near the upper portion of the separating-surface, a dividerfor separating the heavier strata from beneath the lighter near itslower portion, discharge-orifices in proximity thereto, and a defiectorto guide material over the separatingsurface, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a centrifugal separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating-surface upon which material is separated into strata ofheavier and lighter substances, a conduit depositing material forseparation near the upper portion of the separating-surface, a dividerfor separating the heavier stratum from beneath the lighter near itslower portion, discharge-oriiices in proximity thereto, and alongitudinally-reeiprocating deflector acting over theseparating-surface, for agitatin g material, substantially as described.

l0. In a centrifugal separator,` the combination of a rotatableseparating-surface, a conduit depositing the material for separationnear the upper portion of said surface, one or more orifices fordischarging the same near the loWer portion thereof, and alongitudinally -reciprocat-ing agitator acting over theseparating-surface, substantially as described.

ll. In a centrifugal separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating-surface upon which material is separated into strata ofheavier and lighter substances, a divider for separating the heavierstratum from beneath the lighter,and a longitudinally-reciprocatin gagitator acting over the separating-surface, substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

l2. lnaoentrifugal separator, the oombina` dieeharge-orioesl inproximity thereto, and tion of a rotatable separating-surface uponalongitudinally-reoiprooating agitatoraoting Io which material `isseparated into strata of. overthe separating-surface, substantially asheavier and lighter substances, a conduit dei described.

5 positing material for separation near the up- ORRIN B. PECK.

per portion of the separating-surface, a di- Witnesses: vider forseparating the heavier stratum from O. RICH,

beneath the lighter near `its lower portion, J. DE LA I `ON'1AIN.

